End Your Summer With a Bang!

Throughout the school year, students excitedly anticipate the relaxation and memories that are supposed to come with summer break. However, for many, reality hits when break brings daily SAT classes and other occupations.

While SAT classes and internships are important, students also deserve fun and relaxation.

Michelle Lee, an incoming senior at Whitney High School, attends an SAT academy five hours daily and stated, “Going to SAT every day feels like going to school every day except with more pressure. When I see other people hanging out and going to new places, I want to do the same.”

For students like Lee, summer break may appear bleak. Luckily there are many low-cost, flexible activities that can help teenagers end break on a happy note. These ideas provide students with opportunities to have fun.

Primarily, teenagers should be active. If they spend hours poring over study books, they should also take the time to go outside and expend energy. By engaging in sporty activities, students can exercise and release stress without spending a single penny. Hiking, rollerblading, biking, and even picnicking are all fun activities that do not require any fees.

Lauren Lee, another incoming Whitney senior, recently hiked at Peters Canyon Regional Park in Orange Country with three friends. She told JSR, “It was a good experience because we were able to take time away from electronics to spend quality time with friends and get beneficial exercise while admiring nature.”

If fitness-related pastimes do not seem appealing, students can also work to complete goals with friends instead. A mission can be serious or silly; whether it be to visit all nearby museums, try different types of ramen, or form a book or movie club, a mission can unite friends in a creative way.

Another way for teenagers to end summer excitingly is to be artistic. Friends can bake and work on do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, like DIY popsicles or room decor. If teenagers want to earn money, they can hold online sales on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Using baked goods or other items gathered among friends, students can fundraise for more adventures by selling items online to friends and family.

Last but definitely not least, teenagers can take time to volunteer. By serving others, students can learn the importance of civic responsibility and also meet other compassionate volunteers. Teenagers can easily give back to the community by volunteering within the city or joining a service club. For example, incoming Whitney sophomore Eunice Park established the Bookmark Project to manage mobile libraries in different communities.

“Teenagers should definitely volunteer,” Park suggested to JSR, “because unlike other extracurriculars that require skill or practice, all volunteering requires is an open mind and passion, which changes others’ lives.”

Teenagers should make the most of their summer vacations before the school year brings endless tests and homework. By being active, forming missions with friends, becoming artistic, and serving others, students can make unforgettable summer memories.